Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
In an interferometric device for measurement of the variations in length of a sample under the influence of temperature, the length of the sample being within a plane of reference and a plane of measurement defined by two plane terminal faces of the sample, the device comprising a source of monochromatic light, means to form parallel beams from said source, a controllable temperature thermostatic enclosure, a sample holder placed in the enclosure, a reflecting reference surface for receiving one of said beams, a reflecting measurement surface joined to the plane of measurement for receiving the other of said beams, means to cause interferences of the two beams reflected respectively by the two reflecting surfaces, and a sensor to observe and measure interference fringes, the improvement comprising a bearing face presented by said sample holder for the terminal reference face of the sample, elastic means for applying the sample against said bearing face, and support means for supporting said reflecting reference surface inside said enclosure and ensuring that the variation of distance between the two reflecting surfaces will be equal to the variation in length of the sample when the temperature of the thermostatic enclosure is varied, said sample holder comprising a support for the reflecting measurement surface, of thickness a 1 and with coefficient of thermal dilatation λ 1 , applied against the terminal measurement face of the sample, the support means for the reflecting reference surface having a thickness a 2 , measured from the plane of reference, and a coefficient of dilatation λ 2 , and these thicknesses and these coefficients of dilatation satisfying the equation a 1 λ 1 equals a 2 λ 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
278 words
In an interferometric device for measurement of the variations in length of a sample under the influence of temperature, the length of the sample being within a plane of reference and a plane of measurement defined by two plane terminal faces of the sample, the device comprising a source of monochromatic light, means to form parallel beams from said source, a controllable temperature thermostatic enclosure, a sample holder placed in the enclosure, a reflecting reference surface for receiving one of said beams, a reflecting measurement surface joined to the plane of measurement for receiving the other of said beams, means to cause interferences of the two beams reflected respectively by the two reflecting surfaces, and a sensor to observe and measure interference fringes, the improvement comprising a bearing face presented by said sample holder for the terminal reference face of the sample, elastic means for applying the sample against said bearing face, and support means for supporting said reflecting reference surface inside said enclosure and ensuring that the variation of distance between the two reflecting surfaces will be equal to the variation in length of the sample when the temperature of the thermostatic enclosure is varied, said sample holder comprising a support for the reflecting measurement surface, of thickness a 1 and with coefficient of thermal dilatation λ 1 , applied against the terminal measurement face of the sample, the support means for the reflecting reference surface having a thickness a 2 , measured from the plane of reference, and a coefficient of dilatation λ 2 , and these thicknesses and these coefficients of dilatation satisfying the equation a 1 λ 1 equals a 2 λ 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Device as in claim 1, wherein the support means for the reflecting reference surface is an integral part of the sample holder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
Device as in claim 1 wherein the support of the reflecting measurement surface presents straps that bear elastically against the rear part of the sample holder to apply the support of the reflecting measurement surface against the measurement face of the sample.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
260 words
In an interferometric device for measurement of the variations in length of a sample under the influence of temperature, the length of the sample being within a plane of reference and a plane of measurement defined by two plane terminal faces of the sample, the device comprising a source of monochromatic light, means to form parallel beams from said source, a controllable temperature thermostatic enclosure, a sample holder placed in the enclosure, a reflecting reference surface for receiving one of said beams, a reflecting measurement surface joined to the plane of measurement for receiving the other of said beams, means to cause interferences of the two beams reflected respectively by the two reflecting surfaces, and a sensor to observe and measure interference fringes, the improvement comprising a bearing face presented by said sample holder for the terminal reference face of the sample, elastic means for applying the sample against said bearing face, said sample holder presenting a straight concave seat for the sample of substantially trapezoidal section as viewed parallel to said other of said beams such that said sample lies within the concave seat and is supported by the diverging walls of the trapezoidal section to facilitate maintenance of alignment of the axis of the sample and prevent pinching, swinging or compression of the sample, and support means for supporting said reflecting reference surface inside said enclosure and ensuring that the variation of distance between the two reflecting surfaces will be equal to the variation in length of the sample when the temperature of the thermostatic enclosure is varied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
260 words
In an interferometric device for measurement of the variations in length of a sample under the influence of temperature, the length of the sample being within a plane of reference and a plane of measurement defined by two plane terminal faces of the sample, the device comprising a source of monochromatic light, means to form parallel beams from said source, a controllable temperature thermostatic enclosure, a sample holder placed in the enclosure, a reflecting reference surface for receiving one of said beams, a reflecting measurement surface joined to the plane of measurement for receiving the other of said beams, means to cause interferences of the two beams reflected respectively by the two reflecting surfaces, and a sensor to observe and measure interference fringes, the improvement comprising a bearing face presented by said sample holder for the terminal reference face of the sample, elastic means for applying the sample against said bearing face, said sample holder presenting a straight concave seat for the sample of substantially trapezoidal section as viewed parallel to said other of said beams such that said sample lies within the concave seat and is supported by the diverging walls of the trapezoidal section to facilitate maintenance of alignment of the axis of the sample and prevent pinching, swinging or compression of the sample, and support means for supporting said reflecting reference surface inside said enclosure and ensuring that the variation of distance between the two reflecting surfaces will be equal to the variation in length of the sample when the temperature of the thermostatic enclosure is varied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Device as in claim 4, wherein the reflecting measurement surface coincides with the measurement plane of the sample, the reflecting reference surface is in the plane of reference, and said support means is an integral part of the sample holder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
241 words
In an interferometric device for measurement of the variations in length of a sample under the influence of temperature, the length of the sample being within a plane of reference and a plane of measurement defined by two plane terminal faces of the sample, the device comprising a source of monochromatic light, means to form parallel beams from said source, a controllable temperature thermostatic enclosure, a sample holder placed in the enclosure, a reflecting reference surface for receiving one of said beams, a reflecting measurement surface joined to the plane of measurement for receiving the other of said beams, means to cause interferences of the two beams reflected respectively by the two reflecting surfaces, and a sensor to observe and measure interference fringes, the improvement comprising a bearing face presented by said sample holder for the terminal reference face of the sample, elastic means for applying the sample against said bearing face, support means for supporting said reflecting reference surface inside said enclosure and ensuring that the variation of distance between the two reflecting surfaces will be equal to the variation in length of the sample when the temperature of the thermostatic enclosure is varied, at least two centering feet and corresponding mating formations carried by respective ones of said sample holder and said enclosure for releasably positioning the sample holder in the enclosure, the axes of said centering feet and said mating formations lying substantially in said plane of reference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
241 words
In an interferometric device for measurement of the variations in length of a sample under the influence of temperature, the length of the sample being within a plane of reference and a plane of measurement defined by two plane terminal faces of the sample, the device comprising a source of monochromatic light, means to form parallel beams from said source, a controllable temperature thermostatic enclosure, a sample holder placed in the enclosure, a reflecting reference surface for receiving one of said beams, a reflecting measurement surface joined to the plane of measurement for receiving the other of said beams, means to cause interferences of the two beams reflected respectively by the two reflecting surfaces, and a sensor to observe and measure interference fringes, the improvement comprising a bearing face presented by said sample holder for the terminal reference face of the sample, elastic means for applying the sample against said bearing face, support means for supporting said reflecting reference surface inside said enclosure and ensuring that the variation of distance between the two reflecting surfaces will be equal to the variation in length of the sample when the temperature of the thermostatic enclosure is varied, at least two centering feet and corresponding mating formations carried by respective ones of said sample holder and said enclosure for releasably positioning the sample holder in the enclosure, the axes of said centering feet and said mating formations lying substantially in said plane of reference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
Device as in claim 6 further comprising a base bearing the enclosure and the means to cause interference of the beams, and at least two centering feet and cooperating mating formations carried by respective ones of said enclosure and said base for positioning the enclosure on the base, the axes of these second-mentioned centering feet and mating formations lying substantially in said plane of reference.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Device as in claim 7 further comprising at least two further centering feet, whose axes are in a plane parallel to the plane of reference, for cooperation with mating formations to position on the base supports for said means to cause interference of the beams.